#medieval bathing

[cuties-in-codices]

couple in a wooden tub

from the medical-astrological schürstab codex, nuremberg, c. 1472

source: Zurich, ZB, Ms. C 54, fol. 44v

[ladtheove-art]

Tim as noble vampire enjoying a blood bath, served by his enthralled servant Jason.

Based on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, the bloody countess, who was said to have bathed on the blood of young women to stay young and beautiful herself. Though this depiction only came to be on the XVIII century, way after her time, (she was charged for torturing and killing over 650 young women, not bathing in their blood), she is thought to be the inspiration for Carmilla, from Joseph Sheridan le Fanu, one of the firsts Victorian vampire novels written.

(As a side note, noble ladies at the time of Elizabeth Bathory, used to put cloth on their baths to soften the touch of the wood, as well as add herbs, like dried rose petals, to the water, to scent their baths.)

[ao3tagoftheday]

The Ao3 Tag of the Day is: And thus the delousing comb was invented

[goodbyeolepaint]

Historical accounts indicate that Henry VIII was bathed at birth and only again in preparation for burial.

(my Forgotten English calendar)

Gah!!! Argh!! And he had all those wives!!!!!